Project Engineer (Data Center)

About the role
The Data Center Project Engineer – Data Center Field Engineering (Lead Level) is a senior technical delivery role responsible for the design, implementation, and oversight of physical infrastructure and networking systems within enterprise and colocation data centers. Reporting to the Data Center Field Engineering Practice Lead, this role provides end-to-end ownership of complex deployments—ranging from structured cabling and fiber plant design to high-performance data center networking infrastructure.
This engineer serves as a key technical leader on the ground, managing implementation efforts, field crews, and project engineering tasks while ensuring that solutions meet technical, operational, and customer standards. The role bridges design and delivery, working closely with project managers, integration teams, and customer stakeholders.

What you'll be doing

• Technical Leadership & Delivery Governance
  • Serve as the senior technical lead for all structured cabling. Rack deployment and networking / fiber aspects of data center deployments.
  • Ensure infrastructure solutions are designed and installed in accordance with BICSI, TIA/EIA, and customer-specific standards.
  • Provide oversight and approval for network hardware installation, cable routing, and patching documentation.
  • Lead onsite efforts during First Article Builds (FABs), Proof of Concepts (POCs), and network turn-ups.
• Project Lifecycle Ownership
  • Manage technical delivery across all project phases:
    • Design: Site surveys, rack elevations, BOMs, network patch schedules, and cabling matrices.
    • Implementation: Oversee structured cabling, fiber installations, network hardware deployment, and staging.
    • Closeout: Ensure final documentation, test results (Fluke/OTDR), labeling, and customer sign-off are complete.
  • Provide input into Field Change Orders (FCOs) based on real-time project or site changes.
  • Provide QA/QC for all technical deliverables, including test documentation and redlines.
• Field Engineering Oversight
  • Direct and mentor onsite field teams including rack build technicans, low voltage technicians, cabling installers, and subcontractors.
  • Validate capabilities of assigned resources and align workforce with project complexity.
  • Perform hands-on supervision of cable pulling, dressing, patching, and termination activities (Cat6A, fiber, etc.).
  • Ensure safe work practices and enforce compliance with job site safety standards.
• Networking Infrastructure Deployment
  • Support installation and connectivity of core/aggregation/leaf switches, firewalls, routers, and optical transport systems.
  • Coordinate hardware installation (rack/stack), structured patching, and uplink connectivity within white space environments.
  • Validate port mappings, cross-connects, and end-to-end patching against design documentation.
• Documentation & Standards Compliance
  • Develop and maintain comprehensive engineering documentation including:
    • Rack elevations
    • Cable routing diagrams
    • Patch schedules
    • Test results
    • Labeling schemes
  • Ensure all documentation is updated throughout the project lifecycle and handed off at closeout.
• Client and Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Interface with customer technical teams, consultants, PMO, integration centers, and vendors.
  • Lead site walks, participate in kickoff meetings, and punch list reviews with internal and client stakeholders.
  • Participate in after-action reviews and contribute to process improvement and delivery standards.
• Core Focus Areas
  • Data Center Networking: Core/leaf/spine architectures, Cisco Nexus/Meraki, Arista, Juniper, Palo Alto.
  • Structured Cabling: Cat6A, OM3/OM4/OS2 fiber installations, fiber plant documentation, OSP/ISP terminations, Single Mode & Multi Mode fiber types.
  • Rack & Stack: Server, storage, and networking gear installation with labeling, power, and grounding best practices.
  • Connectivity & Testing: Fluke DTX/Versiv & Exfo testing, OTDR, patch field design and documentation, cross-connect management.

What you have

• 7+ years of experience delivering physical infrastructure and network solutions in enterprise or colocation data centers.
• Proven technical leadership on structured cabling and low voltage projects.
• Strong hands-on experience with rack and stack, fiber/copper plant design, patching standards, and testing tools.
• Familiarity with modern data center network architectures (spine-leaf, high-density switching).
• Experience in managing field teams and coordinating with multiple delivery workstreams.
• Bachelor's degree in IT, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent technical field.
• Industry certifications such as:
  • BICSI Technician, RCDD
  • Exfo/Fluke DTX/Versiv Certification
  • Cisco CCNA/CCNP (Data Center)
• Familiarity with Revit, AutoCAD, Visio, and Smartsheet or MS Project.
• OSHA 10/30 certification or equivalent site safety training.
• Deep understanding of low voltage cabling standards and best practices.
• Deep understanding of Data Center Networking technologies
• Excellent communication and documentation skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams.
• Ability to collaborate across technical and non-technical teams, both internally and externally.
• Self-starter who can lead on-site technical efforts with minimal supervision.

What you can expect

There’s so much more to enjoy about being at Computacenter than just having a rewarding career. In addition to offering competitive compensation plans and long-term career opportunities, we provide an attractive mix of benefit plans to contribute to your good health, future financial security, and peace of mind.

About us

Computacenter is a leading independent technology partner, trusted by large corporate and public sector organizations. We help our world-renowned customers to source, transform, and manage their IT infrastructure to deliver digital transformation, enabling users and their business. We’re a public company quoted on the London FTSE 250 (CCC.L) and employ over 20,000 people worldwide. In the US, we support some of the country’s best-known businesses with regional hubs in San Francisco and Irvine, CA; Norcross, GA; Plano, TX; and New York City; and Integration Centers in Silicon Valley and Atlanta. www.computacenter.com/us